THE MASS SHOOTING IN WESTBURY AND ONGOING MASS SHOOTINGS RELATED TO GANG AND EXTORTION VIOLENCE IN THE WESTERN CAPE

MAKEKASIGREAT©®™ @KASIBC_AFRICA 

ONLINE EDITOR @KASIBC_AFRICA 

THE MASS SHOOTING IN WESTBURY AND ONGOING MASS SHOOTINGS RELATED TO GANG AND EXTORTION VIOLENCE IN THE WESTERN CAPE 

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) expresses its deep concern and pain to the victims and families of those whose lives were lost in mass shootings in Westbury, Johannesburg this afternoon. In what reflects continued lawlessness and bloodshed in our country, two teenagers were shot dead in Westbury, while five additional teenagers have been left wounded. It is of greater concern that the individuals who have been harmed with two fatalities in this incident, are said to have been involved in gang-related activity, and the attack on them was from a rival gang. 

It reflects the moral and social decay in our society, where teenagers as young as 14-years old, are engaged in violent activity wherein firearms are involved. This simply means that the culture of violence, crime and murder in South Africa has now been inherited by children and has embedded itself in our communities. Further to this, the ease of access to what is undoubtedly illegal firearms which is at the center of gang-violence in this country is a cause for concern which is not being appropriately addressed, especially considering that in some instances it is firearms which belong to SAPS which are involved in violent crime. 

These gang-related shootings in Westbury, follow what has become almost daily reports of mass shootings in the City of Cape Town, and recently in Philippi East, where seven people were shot dead in what is suspected to be related to ongoing gang and extortion related activities in the area.  

As the nation confronts the allegations of the capture of law enforcement agencies which are being unraveled in the Ad Hoc Committee of the Parliament of South Africa and the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, the streets of South Africa continue to be riddled by organized crime and violence. The release of individuals who are involved in these activities as repeat offenders on bail through our courts, further encourages an attitude of impunity, and cripple communities and whistle-blowers into silence. 

The EFF calls on law enforcement agencies in South Africa, including the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the South African Police Services (SAPS) and all its units and the Judiciary to use the opportunity presented by the exposure of corruption in our system to rise to the occasion and intensify the fight against drug cartels, criminal syndicates and organized crime. The criminal underworld ought not to find an opportunity in the collective reflection that the nation is undergoing regarding lawlessness, to increase their illegal activity and operations. Organized crime and violence by gangs and syndicates ought to at this stage wherein our law enforcement agencies are under scrutiny, be characterized as acts of domestic terrorism. 

Our nation should be on high alert and criminals should be more afraid now more ever, rather than continue their operations. 

Further to this, there must be complete transparency and constant updates regarding the apprehension of individuals involved in organized crime which include extortion rings and gangs. 

The EFF will continue to raise sharply all methods that can be utilized to track and uncover organized crime which has infiltrated law enforcement agencies in South Africa and will revive efforts to fight organized crime particularly that of extortion and gangsterism. 

We encourage all citizens to approach their police stations and their public representatives in municipal councils, provincial legislatures and in Parliament to report any member of SAPS who they suspect to be in collusion with criminal syndicates. 

MAKEKASIGREAT©®™ @KASIBC_AFRICA